Grenfell Inquiry highlights critical need for change in fire testing methods
Fire Protection Association (FPA) Technical Director George Edwardes has commented on the findings of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2.
The inquiry report scrutinised the fire testing practices that failed to prevent the tragedy and has put forth recommendations aimed at reforming these practices.
Edwardes stressed the importance of systemic change, focusing on how the fire safety industry must reform its testing methods, particularly for external cladding systems.
He said: “The Grenfell disaster should not be seen solely as a finger-pointing exercise.
“It exposed a systemic issue with unsafe, highly combustible ACM panels and insulation that had not passed adequate fire tests.”
Challenges in current fire safety and testing systems
The inquiry found that fire safety tests, such as the small-scale Single Burning Item (SBI) test, have limitations when assessing real-world conditions.
According to Edwardes, many current testing methods fail to provide adequate data on fire spread, contributing to unsafe building practices.
The report noted that the Grenfell disaster could have been avoided if the fire industry’s knowledge of dangerous materials, such as ACM panels, had been communicated more effectively to construction professionals.
Edwardes stated: “The knowledge of the dangers of ACM panels with a plastic core existed within the fire industry.
“People had fire tested these materials, witnessed the raging inferno, and reported the risks.”
Future improvements in fire testing for external cladding systems
In response to the inquiry, Edwardes highlighted the FPA’s commitment to improving fire testing standards.
He discussed the introduction of new tests that correlate better with large-scale testing and provide more accurate data on fire spread, allowing for safer building designs.
The FPA has been researching methods like Microscale Combustion Calorimeters (MCCs) to measure the heat released by materials under various conditions.
Edwardes said: “The future should look to tests which focus on material properties and which show good correlation with large scale tests and computational models.”
Impact of new fire testing standards on cladding industry
The introduction of new fire tests will significantly impact the cladding industry, Edwardes warned.
The inquiry’s recommendations will alter how cladding systems are assessed, designed, and regulated, leading to changes in fire risk assessment methods and regulations.
Edwardes drew a comparison to previous improvements in fire safety, such as the rise of combustion-modified foam insulation following the introduction of realistic testing methods in the 1990s.
“The future of cladding system design, fire risk assessment, and regulation will necessarily change as new fire testing standards are introduced,” Edwardes concluded.
FPA’s George Edwardes releases statement on Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 recommendations: Summary
George Edwardes, Technical Director of the Fire Protection Association (FPA), has commented on the recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2.
He emphasised the need for significant changes in fire testing practices, particularly for external cladding systems, to prevent future tragedies.
Edwardes highlighted the limitations of current small-scale fire tests and called for more accurate testing methods that align with large-scale fire conditions.
The FPA is committed to researching and implementing these changes, with Edwardes warning that new standards will profoundly impact the cladding industry, including design, risk assessments, and regulations.